Where does “after-” come from?
after- (English) comes from Old English æfter-, from Old English æfter, from Proto-West Germanic *aftar, from Proto-Germanic after, from Proto-Indo-European h₂epoteros — further behind, further away.
after- (English): With contrary, subordinate, or remote effect;...
Definitions
- With contrary, subordinate, or remote effect;...
Ancestry of “after-”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | æfter- | after, behind; afterward; for, for the sake or... |
| 2 | Old English | æfter | after; according to |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *aftar | after, behind |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | after | after, behind |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂epoteros | further behind, further away |